Spontaneous Summer Send-Off

It's really special to have a weekend laying out in front of you with absolutely no obligations. None. No plans, no commitments, only freedom. Ahh. It feels so good.

Bryan suggested we head to the beach this afternoon, so around noon we packed up a cooler of sparkling water, peaches, hummus and chips, and some cubed watermelon (with a squeeze of lime - Bryan's touch). We headed out to Jacob Riis park, it made us instantly grateful that we have a car.

The weather was just right today, breezy, warm, bright, but not too searing. So we set up camp on the beach and promptly fell asleep on the blanket. We relaxed, read, laid around, and at around 6 we decided to grab some dinner. I had read an article in TimeOut a few weeks back about a bunch of seafood shacks out in Sheepshead Bay and was dying for the opportunity to go. Shellfish is one of my all time favorite foods - you name it, if it wears a shell I'll love it. And lobster... well, I never get tired of it. We decided on Clementes Maryland Crab House because of it's close proximity to where we were. That and the fact that it was crab house. It proved nearly impossible to find and after we passed Jordan's Lobster Farm we were thisclose to giving up. We rounded the corner and behold! The music was cranking and people were streaming in, we knew we had found it.

We got seated on the back patio which overlooked a small marina. One look out and you forget you're in New York entirely. I ordered a cold Coors Light and Bryan got a Sam Adams. Together we laughed as we listened to the voices around us.. Oh my gawd, Gina, get ova hea! I instantly feel at home and am reminded of my own family.. ahh the sounds of the Brooklyn Italian accent.

We both ordered the 1.25 lb. lobster dinner and couldn't wait to dig in when it arrived. This may have only been the third time Bryan's ever had lobster, so I watched with glee as he grinned his way through dinner. The sun set around us and the music got louder. People started dancing and we knew this was some kind of hot spot in these parts. We wiped our hands and paid the bill - it wasn't cheap but it was worth it. Next time, we'll share a lobster and order some baked clams and crab cakes to share.



On the way home we drove through Coney Island and I spotted with my little eye a brightly lit Carvel. Carvel!! Yet another summer ritual from my youth. I've been talking about Carvel for years and Bryan, being from the west coast, decided it was time that he finally try it. We got mint chocolate chip ice-cream and hot fudge (I got sprinkles too). That hot fudge is to die for, and the ice-cream was just as I remembered. I only wish they still made vanilla crunch - you know, with swirls of all those Carvel crunchies. Oh my, yum!!!